Matalco to build aluminum billet plant in Ohio

Matalco Inc., Brampton, Ontario, has announced plans to build an aluminum billet manufacturing facility in Lordstown, Ohio. The company currently operates two facilities that use predominantly aluminum scrap to produce remelt, extrusion grade aluminum billet and forging stock. The company says the new facility will strengthen and expand its presence in the North American aluminum market.

Matalco will invest more than $100 million to build the 200,000-square-foot manufacturing plant, which is near Youngstown in northeastern Ohio. At full capacity, the Lordstown facility will be able to produce 175,000 tons of various series of aluminum billet annually.

Raw material for the facility will be various grades of aluminum scrap, primarily 600 series, says Robert Roscetti, Matalco director of corporate development. “However,” he adds, “We also use P1020 ingot as part of our production process. Also, our plan is to grow and expand our market share into the 3000 and 4000 series alloy markets.”

“The Matalco announcement has been a long time coming, as the Chamber has been working with Matalco leadership for over a year and a half,” says Sarah Boyarko, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber’s vice president for economic development, North America.

The company says it expects to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2014 and for the plant to be fully commissioned by early 2016. Matalco expects production ramp up to full capacity by 2019.

“This significant investment clearly demonstrates our unwavering commitment to serve our customers and expand our market share,” says Armand Sanguigni, president of Matalco Inc. “After a lengthy selection process, we decided on Lordstown as the site of our new plant because of its location relative to our market, its exceptional workforce and the comprehensive incentive package and assistance provided from both the state and local levels.”

Matalco currently has two plants – one in Brampton and the other in Canton, Ohio. Combined, the company already produces 175,000 tons of aluminum billet per year.

The company is an affiliate of Triple M Metal LP, a large scrap metal recycler also based in Brampton. Roscetti says the expansion will include and integrate Triple M Metal LP’s nonferrous operations to procure and handle all of Matalco’s aluminum scrap requirements as well as process other nonferrous materials independently and separately from Matalco.

Triple M is a part of The Giampaolo Group. In addition to Triple M and Matalco, other companies that are a part of the Giampaolo Group include Venture Steel Inc., a steel processor and distributor of metal with a focus on flat rolled steel products, and Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP), an electronic asset management and electronics recycling firm.